Penelope Bourbon Barrel Strength (Batch 18)

This Four Grain Barrel Strength bourbon is a blend of three MGP bourbon mash bills, aged in new American oak barrels with char levels #4 on the staves and #2 on the heads. The mash bill consists of 74% Corn, 16% Wheat, 7% Rye, and 3% Malted Barley. It is bottled uncut, unfiltered, at 57% ABV, and aged for 4 to 6 years. It has a light brown straw color with slow-moving legs in the glass. The nose offers floral vanilla oak, berry, and sweet malted cereal grain, with a subtle spice in the background. On the palate, there's sweet grain and caramel corn, with grassy rye spice, mint, and tannic oak. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light and smooth for a 57% ABV bourbon. The finish is lengthy, featuring sweetness and spice, dry oak, and tart cherry. Adding an ice cube softens the tannins and ethanol, perhaps excessively. This brand has skillfully blended quality MGP whiskies (and been transparent about it), so effectively that MGP recently acquired them for blending and marketing their finest barrels. Expect more excellent batches to come.